Baseball/softball batter training device

ABSTRACT

A pitched device for training baseball players, softball players, and umpires. The device trains batters to help the batter identify when to swing or not swing at a pitch based on a combination of what the ball and strike count is on the batter and where the pitched ball will pass in relation to the strike zone for that batter.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of nonprovisional applicationSer. No. 12/592,111 filed Nov. 19, 2009 which is a continuation-in-partof nonprovisional application Ser. No. 11/764,521 which is acontinuation-in-part of nonprovisional application Ser. No. 11/764,521filed Jun. 18, 2007. The complete disclosure of each of these threeprior applications is incorporated by reference as if fully statedherein. This application claims all applicable priority dates to thoseapplications.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a training device and processes for improvingthe visual and mental skills of a batter attempting to hit a baseball orsoftball. Alternatively, these devices and processes may also be used bypitchers for the purpose of enhancing the skill of the pitcher atthrowing a baseball or softball into a specific area, and by umpires whocan increase their visual skills at quickly determining whether apitched baseball or softball is within the strike zone.

Although other prior art inventions exist for use in training athletesto better determine the location of a pitched baseball or softball, theprior art does not offer certain advantages offered by certainembodiments of the present invention. For example, some prior artinventions do not teach a batter when to hit or swing at a ball when thepitched baseball passes near the batter while the baseball passesthrough specific designated hitting zones. This is to say, whileteaching a batter to hit a ball that has been pitched, the strategy usedof in baseball requires much more than just being able to hit abaseball. For example, there are times when the batter should swing atballs that may not be exactly in the strike zone. Yet, there are othertimes when a batter should not swing at a ball at all—regardless ofwhere the ball is pitched. This type of “zone hitting” is not disclosedor suggested in the prior art.

Zone hitting is the skill of seeing a pitched ball and determiningwhether or not to swing at the ball depending on what zone the pitchedball is passing through, as well as what the ball-strike count is on thebatter. Thus, what is needed is a training device capable of helping abatter learn what hitting zone a pitched ball will be passing throughand when to swing and not swing at the pitched ball.

While certain other prior art inventions may use defined targets fordetermining the general location of a pitched ball, the strike zonedesignated by that prior art is designed for training a baseball pitcherwhere to throw a ball—not for teaching an athlete when to hit a pitchedball at the appropriate time in a game. In fact, most prior art is notequipped with the larger number of color coded and well-defined hittingzones that are considered necessary for training a batter to take goodquality at bats. Nor is the prior art equipped with an attached homeplate that folds down and extends out in front of the trainer to keepthe home plate consistently and precisely in a designated strike zone.When fully reviewed, it is understood that prior art inventions fail tounderstand or address the fact that it is vital that the batter have arepeatable, fixed accurate point of home plate reference that easilyassists the batter in taking an appropriate batting stance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a training device and a process that can traina batter to better observe when a ball is passing through varioushitting zones and to make the decision to either swing or not swing at apitched ball based on which swinging zone the ball is pitched and whatthe ball and strike count is for the batter at the time the ball ispitched to the batter.

More specifically, various embodiments of the training device provide apitching backstop that will generally capture and retain a simulatedball. The batter training device includes various color markings thatidentify certain zones that instruct the athlete to either swing at apitched ball or not swing at a pitched ball. The captured simulatedbaseball will reside within one of the color designated hitting zonesand will thus train the batter to swing at pitched balls only when thepitched ball is passing through specific hitting zones.

Finally, various embodiments of a training process include training thebatter to first note the number of balls and the number of strikes thebatter has before a pitch is made to the batter, and then decide when toswing at a pitched ball based on the current ball and strike count andwhich swinging zone the batter anticipates the pitched ball to enter.

The embodiments of the present invention were developed through years ofcoaching and observing little league batters and their inability to takegood quality “at bats” in game situations. There has long existed a needamong batters for a new type of batting pitched apparatus that workswell as a visual aid for both the player and the coach, and that whencombined with the associated methods, overcome many of the shortcomingsof the prior art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the presenttraining device invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of the presenttraining device invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention that can be used to train umpires to more accurately determineif a pitched ball is either a ball or a strike under the standard rulesof baseball.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of thepresent invention that can be utilized as a recreational game similar tothrowing darts.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding steps or partsthroughout the several figures of the drawings.

While specific embodiments of the present invention are illustrated inthe above referenced drawings and in the following description, it isunderstood that the embodiments shown are merely some examples ofvarious preferred embodiments and are offered for the purpose ofillustration only and that various changes in construction may beresorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the presentinvention may be utilized to the best advantage according tocircumstances which may arise, without in any way departing from thespirit and intention of the present invention, which is to be limitedonly in accordance with the claims contained herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THEINVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, one embodiment of the battertraining device A is shown. In that embodiment, a backstop frame 1includes a primary backstop frame 2, a home plate frame 3, and a backbrace frame 4 (FIG. 2). The components of the primary backstop frameform a substantially rectangular opening 2A that is surrounded on foursides by the components of the primary backstop frame. While thisembodiment includes the use of PVC tubing and fittings in theconstruction of all the structural components of the backstop frame 1,the home plate frame 3, and the back frame brace 4, it is understoodthat other materials may also be used as long as the material selectedis generally lightweight and is durable enough to maintain the generalrigidity of the batter training device A when operating in wet or dry,and hot or cold ambient environments.

The home plate frame 3 is operatively disposed from a lower edge 8 ofthe primary backstop frame 1 and is mounted to the primary backstopframe in a manner that allows the home plate frame 3 to pivot upwardtoward the primary backstop frame by pivoting around the lower edge attwo pivot points 9 where the home plate frame is connected to the loweredge. In one embodiment of the invention that uses PVC frame components,the two pivot points 9 are tees that are loosely fitted along the loweredge 8 of the primary backstop frame 1. In alternative embodiments,various types of pivoting configurations may also be used as long as thepivoting configuration selected allows the home plate frame 3 to operateas described herein.

A home plate 10 is mounted onto the home plate frame 3 such that theorientation of the home plate is similar to the orientation of a homeplate as used in a standard baseball field. Alternatively, the homeplate 10 can be oriented in any other manner as long as the home plateremains fixed in that orientation as disposed on the home plate frame 3.

The purpose of the back frame brace 4 is to generally retain the battertraining device A in its upright operable position while still remainingcapable of rotating the back frame brace against the back of the primarybackstop frame 1 for storage and transportation. Therefore, similar tothe home plate frame 3, the back frame brace 4 is pivotally attached tothe primary backstop frame 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 thatutilizes PVC frame components, six tee fittings 11 are used to allow theback frame brace 4 to pivot. More specifically, two couplings 12 areremovably mounted onto four straight members 13. When the back braceframe 4 needs to be pivoted against the primary backstop frame 1, thetwo couplings 12 are separated from two of the four straight members 13.The separation of the two couplings 12 and the pivoting aspect of thesix tee fitting 11 allow the back brace frame 4 to exist as twopivotable sections that can then be rotated against the back portion ofthe primary backstop frame 1. The procedure is reversed when thetraining device A is being setup for operation as described below.

A backstop panel 14 is attached to the primary back stop frame 2. Thebackstop panel 14 is generally attached to the primary back stop frame 2by stretching the backstop panel 14 within the opening 2A of the primaryback stop frame and then attaching the backstop panel to the primaryback stop frame with a plurality of attachment devices 5. In the presentembodiment, the plurality of attachment devices 5 are elastomeric bungeecords that are passed though a plurality of openings 6 in the backstoppanel 14. When assembled, the backstop panel 14 is stretched taut withinthe primary backstop frame 2 and forms a backstop surface 8.

In alternative embodiments, the plurality of attachment openings 6 caninclude a reinforcement 7 placed into each of the plurality of openings6 to strengthen the opening against possible damage when the backstoppanel 14 is stretched across the primary back stop frame 2. In yet otherembodiments, the plurality of attachment devices can be wire or metaldevices. In fact any type of attachment device can be used to attachedthe backstop panel 14 within the primary backstop frame 2 as long as thebackstop panel can be readily removed and the attachment device beingused allows the backstop panel to be stretched within the opening 2A ofthe primary backstop panel.

It is understood that the batter training device A includes a simulated,weighted bat handle 21 and a pitched ball 15. The simulated pitched ball15 includes hook and loop elements and is constructed in a manner thatallows the simulated pitched ball to remain removably attached to thebackstop panel 14 when the simulated pitched ball is pitched against thebackstop panel 14. This is to say, the combination of the material usedto make the backstop panel 14 and pitched ball 15 result in a hook andloop combination of materials that allow the pitched ball 15 to stick tothe backstop panel at the point where the pitched ball first comes intocontact with the backstop panel. In that manner, the location of thepitched ball 15 is determined by the observance of the position of thepitched ball as it is held in place against the backstop panel 14 by thehook and loop interconnection.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, the primary backstopframe 1 can include an additional member 16 at a location at the top ofthe primary backstop frame structure as shown in FIG. 1. Although thematerial used for the additional member 16 is usually the same materialas used in the primary backstop frame 1, the additional member can bemade of different materials and still remain within the intended scopeof the present invention.

The purpose of the additional member 16 is to allow for a method ofscoring the results of the batter when using the batter training deviceA to develop the batter's hitting skills. More specifically, a pluralityof tally rings 17 can be slideably installed around the additionalmember 16 such that the plurality of tally rings can slide along thelongitudinal axis of the additional member. The use of the tally rings17 for keeping track of the batter's efforts is more fully described inthe operations section below.

It will be appreciated that the backstop panel 14 operates as notedabove to catch and retain the pitched ball 15 pitched against thebackstop panel. In preferred embodiments of the present invention,additional hitting zone panels can be mounted to the surface of thebackstop panel 14 for the purpose of determining which hitting zone thepitched ball 15 passed through. More specifically, FIG. 1 shows a yellowpanel 18, a green panel 19, and a red panel 20 that are mounted onto thebackstop panel 14. At least one alignment strip 22 is also disposed onthe surface of the backstop panel 14 and are sized, configured, andlocated on the backstop panel in a manner that provides a means ofconsistently mounting the three panels 18, 19, and 20 onto the surfaceof the backstop panel as noted in the operation section below.

Those of skill in the art of training devices appreciate the fact thatthe use of different colored panels to denote different hitting zones isa unique way of allowing a batter or a scorer to quickly determine whenthe batter has made a good or bad swing decision. This is to say, ratherthan requiring the batter or scorer to carefully examine the targetareas to assess the success of the batter, the batter and scorer caninstead simply look for the correct color panel to quickly determinewhether the pitched ball 15 has landed in the correct hitting zone forthe designated ball-strike count on the batter who either did or did notswing at the pitched ball.

As shown in FIG. 1, each of the panels has a different size with theyellow panel 18 being larger than the green panel 19, and the greenpanel 19 being larger than the red panel 20. It is also noted that inthis embodiment, each of the panels 18, 19, and 20 are generallyrectangular in shape. The significance of the sized and color of each ofthe three panels 18, 19, and 20 is also further defined in the operationsection below.

It is understood that the size of the yellow panel 18 is related to thesize of the green panel 19. More specifically, the yellow panel 18 islarger on all four sides than the green panel 19 by an amount equal tothe diameter of the ball being pitched. This relationship in mostpreferred embodiments is maintained in the training device A for thereasons stated in the operations section below. Thus, in someembodiments of the present invention, the yellow panel 18 can be affixedto the green panel 19 such that vertical adjustment of the green panelwill result in a generally commensurate vertical adjustment of theyellow panel. This substantially fixed relationship between the yellowpanel 18 and the green panel 19 provides for ease in the adjustment ofthe yellow panel and the green panel to the official strike zone of thebatter that intends to use the training device A. This adjustment ismore specifically disclosed below in the operations paragraphs.

It is understood that the backstop panel 14, the three panels 18, 19,and 20, and the alignment strip 22 are made from a material consistentwith the operation of a hook and loop fastening device. That is, thematerial used for those components allows the pitched ball 15 to becaptured against the materials used for the backstop panel 14, the threepanels 18, 19, and 20, and the alignment strip 22, will permit thepitched ball to be held in place by operation of the hook and loopconnectability. One goal of constructing the three panels 18, 19, and 20to be removable and replaceable at different locations is to allow auser of the training device A to locate those components on the backstoppanel 14 as needed to match the height of the batter who is using thebatter training device A.

As those of skill in the art are aware, the standard “strike zone” asunderstood in the official baseball rules is based on certain physicalelements on the batter's body such as the athlete's knees and chestarea. Because batters have varying body shapes and varying body heights,the adjustability of the three panels 18, 19, and 20 permit thecomponents of the batter training device A to be adjusted as necessaryto match the physical characteristics of each athlete. For this samereason, in some embodiments of the present invention, the yellow panel18 and the green panel 19 are divided into two equal parts for thepurpose of overlapping those panels horizontally to shrink or expand theoverall areas of those two components to match the height of the batterusing the training device A.

It is understood that in certain other embodiments of the presentinvention, the three panels 18, 19, and 20, as well as the alignmentstrip 22 can be attached to the surface of the backstop panel 14 bysewing those components to the backstop panel. In yet other alternativeembodiments, the three panels 18, 19, and 20, and the alignment strip 22include material on their back surfaces that allow those components tobe attached to the backstop panel 14 using the hook and loop method.

While the batter training device A has the purpose increasing thehitting skills of a batter, other embodiments of the present inventionhave the purpose of increasing the skills of an umpire in identifying apitched ball as either a “strike” or a “ball” as understood under therules of baseball. In this alternative embodiment, the generalconstruction is the same as the embodiments as described above, however,the yellow panel 19 and the red panel 20 are not used. Only the greenpanel 18 is used because the size and shape of that panel as installedonto the backstop panel 14 need only identify the area officiallydesignated as the “strike” zone. Thus, repeated use of the trainingdevice A can train the umpire to readily detect when a pitched ball hitsthe backstop panel 14 within the officially designated “strike” zonearea.

It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the battertraining device A and the use, size, color, and placement of the threepanels 18, 19, and 20 can be easily combined to generate a backstop thatcan be used as either a game or as some other type of device capable ofincreasing the skill of a user at determining when a pitched ball orother object passes through a specifically identified zone to strike thebackstop panel 14.

Theory of Operation

When playing the game of baseball, it is very important for a batter topossess the mental and visual skills needed to be a productive batter.The batter must know whether to swing or take the pitch, depending onall of the different ball and strike counts he or she might have in areal game. It is also important to know which areas of the strike zoneto cover for each one of those ball and strike situations.

The yellow panel 18, the green panel 19, and the red panel 20 are usedto identify three distinct locations within and around the strike zone.One goal of the batter training device A and the batter training processis to train a batter to swing only at designated areas of the strikezone in accordance with the various ball or strike counts that can occurin real game situations.

The following are the three defined hitting zone target areas the battertraining device A uses to teach a batter to become a more skilledhitter.

-   -   1. The Red Hitting Zone. The red panel 20 denotes the most        preferred area that a batter prefers to swing at a ball. In most        instances, the red panel identifies the hitting zone that will        allow the batter to be most productive in contacting a pitched        ball to get on base. This is the smallest of the three targets        denoted by the three panels 18, 19, and 20. The batter is taught        to swing at all pitches that hit and adhere to the red panel 20        with one exception. When in an actual baseball game situation,        the batter has a ball-strike count of three balls and zero        strikes, the batter is taught to take any pitched ball        regardless of the location of the pitch. Thus, the red panel        designates the ideal area for a batter to receive a pitched ball        because it is understood that any pitched ball that is thrown in        the hitting zone that results in the pitched ball landing on the        red panel 20 will increase the batter's chances of hitting the        pitched ball in a manner that will allow the batter to make a        base hit or other successful contact with the pitched ball.    -   2. The Green Hitting Zone. The green panel 19 designates the        official strike zone as determined by the official rules of        baseball. The batter practices swinging at all pitched balls        when the batter believes the pitched ball will land on either        the red panel 20 or the green panel 19—but only when that batter        has any one-strike count, with one exception. When the        ball-strike count on the batter is three balls and one strike,        the batter should only swing at pitched balls only if the batter        believes the pitched ball will land on the red panel 20.    -   3. The Yellow Hitting Zone. It is noted that the size of the        yellow panel 18 is larger than the size of the green panel 19 on        all four sides of the yellow panel and is larger by an amount        equal to the diameter of the ball being pitched. The batter        practices swinging at pitched balls that the batter believes        will land on either the yellow panel 18, the green panel 19, or        the red panel 20, but only when the ball-strike count on the        batter includes two strikes. The purpose of training the batter        to swing at pitched balls under that rule is to teach the batter        to expand the batter's official strike zone when the number of        strikes on the batter increases to two strikes. This is known in        the game of baseball as “protecting the plate.”

SETTING UP ONE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is understood that the batter training device A must first be set upand then adjusted for the particular batter who will be using the battertraining device. The device can then be used to train the batter.Therefore, before most preferred embodiments of the present inventioncan be used, the batter training device A should be assembled as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2. It is understood that the batter training device A canbe positioned in most embodiments such that the home plate 10 points inthe general direction of the pitcher that will be throwing the pitchedballs toward the batter training device A.

The components of the batter training device A must also be adjusted tomatch the physical characteristics of the batter that will be using thetraining device A. More specifically, the yellow panel 18, the red panel19, and the green panel 20 of the batter training device A must first beadjusted to match the formal strike zone of the batter to be trained.

To adjust the yellow panel 18 and the green panel 19, one portion of thegreen panel 19 should be adjusted such that the bottom edge of oneportion of the green panel is horizontally aligned with the batter'sknees. The top edge of another portion of the green panel 19 is adjustedsuch that the top edge of the other portion of the green panel isgenerally horizontally aligned with the batters chest—otherwise know as“the letters,” meaning the area of the shirt on a player's baseballuniform where the player's team name or player number is affixed.

As noted above, in some preferred embodiments, the yellow panel 18 isgenerally affixed to the back of the green panel 19 to retain therelationship between the yellow panel and the green panel that allowsthe yellow panel to extend beyond the edges of the green panel by adimension equal to about the diameter of the ball being pitched. It isunderstood that the green panel 19 and the yellow panel 18 of thepresent embodiment are sewn together to make one single panel. In otherembodiments, the yellow panel 18 is not affixed to the green panel 19and the yellow panel must be adjusted after the green panel has beenlocated to represent the official strike zone of the batter. The desiredposition of the green panel 18 is maintained by the hook and looprelationship between the green panel, the yellow panel 18, the alignmentstrip 22, and the backstop panel 14.

To adjust the red panel 20, it must first be understood that the redpanel represents the batter's favorite hitting zone and thus the redpanel can be situated anywhere the batter wants the red panel to beplaced. Therefore, after the yellow panel 18 and the green panel 19 havebeen adjusted and located as noted above, the red panel is thenpositioned onto the combined yellow and green panels in the area thatdesignates the pitches most preferred by the batter when hitting thepitched ball.

OPERATION OF AT LEAST ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

As described and suggested in the above embodiments of the presentinvention, the batter training device A operates and the batter trainingprocess to train a batter to detect when a pitched object passes througha specifically designated zone.

In a preferred embodiment, the batter training device A can be combinedwith the batter training process and can be used to train an athlete toswing, or not to swing, a baseball bat at a pitched ball when thepitched ball passes through at least one of those specificallydesignated area. The following paragraphs describe some preferred usesof the batter training device A and the batter training process.

It is understood that according to the rules of either a baseball gameor a softball game, a pitcher pitches either the baseball or thesoftball (hereinafter “the ball”) to a batter that is standing near ahome plate located on the ball field. Generally, the batter attempts tohit a ball pitched by the pitcher toward the batter. In contrast, thepitcher attempts to terminate the batter's turn at trying to hit thepitched ball by pitching the ball in a manner that causes the batter toswing and miss the pitched ball. If the batter swings and misses thepitched ball, an umpire standing near the batter identifies the missedpitch as a “strike.” If the batter chooses not to swing at a pitchedball that is determined by the umpire to be a pitched ball that shouldhave been hit by the batter, the umpire still identifies the pitchedball as a “strike”—otherwise known as a “called strike.” The umpire willassess the pitch as a “called strike” if the pitched ball passes infront of the batter and through an imaginary box known as the “strikezone.” This is to say, if a pitched ball passes through the strike zoneand the batter does not swing at the pitched ball, the umpire willdeclare the pitch as a called strike.” If the pitcher pitches a ballthat is not swung at by the batter, but which the umpire determines wasNOT a ball that passed through the strike zone, the umpires identifiesthe pitched ball as a “ball.”

Throughout this process, the umpire keeps track of the number of ballsand strikes during the batter's turn at attempting to hit the ball. Thistally is known as the “ball and strike count.” If the ball and strikecount reaches a count of three strikes, the batter's turn is terminated.If the ball and strike count reaches a count of four balls, the batter'sturn is again terminated, however, the batter is allowed to proceed tothe first of four bases that the batter wishes to move toward during thegame.

With the above in mind, it is noted that in most cases the batter wishesto hit the pitched ball to proceed to at least the first of four bases.Other batter training devices are designed to only train the batter toswing at a ball depending on where the batter believes the pitched ballwill pass through the strike zone. In fact, other batter trainingdevices generally just identify where the ball was pitched in relationto the strike zone and keep track of the ball and strike count. Thebatter is expected to learn to hit all balls that pass through thestrike zone and not to swing at any ball that does not pass through thestrike zone.

However, that strategy is simplistic and fails to understand that thereis a much more complex strategy that surrounds the decision by thebatter to either swing or not to swing at a pitched ball. This strategyincludes: (1) a determination of the “ball and strike count” at the timethe batter is about to receive the next pitched ball from the pitcher;and (2) an assessment by the batter during the pitch as to where thebatter expects the pitched ball to be placed in relation to the “strikezone.” Thus, unlike other batter training devices, at least one of thepreferred embodiments of present training process, train the batter touse batting strategy for each pitched as the ball and strike countchanges throughout the batter's turn at attempting to hit the pitchedball. The specific set of bat swinging rules that incorporate thatstrategy are described below.

After the batter training device A has been set up and adjusted for thebatter as described above, the batter takes a hitting position near thehome plate 10 and looks toward the pitcher who will be throwing thepitched ball 15. The batter takes a stance just in front of the battertraining device A in a location that allows the batter to swing thesimulated bat handle 21 across the home plate 10 located on the homeplate frame 3. It is understood that the batter will be holding thesimulated bat handle 21 when swinging or not swinging at the pitchedballs. However, it is also understood that it is not generally intendedthat, in some preferred embodiments, that the batter actually hit thepitched ball. This is one reason that the simulated bat handle 21 is nota full length bat, but is instead a shortened bat handle that isweighted. The batter is instructed to swing at the ball on the imaginarysweet spot of the bat. Nevertheless, some batters may find a way to hitthe pitched ball 15 even when using the simulate bat handle 21. Toreduce the chance of this occurring, it is suggested that the batter“choke up” on the bat handle by positioning the players hands furtheraway from the bottom end of the simulated bat handle 21 so that none ofthe top of the simulated bat handle is visible.

A pitcher stands an appropriate distance away from the backstop panel 14of the batter training device A. The pitcher throws the pitched ball 15toward the batter training device A in a manner that will allow thepitched ball to contact the backstop panel 14 of the batter trainingdevice A. When the pitched ball 15 contacts the backstop panel 14, thehook and loop interaction between the pitched ball material and thematerial used to make the backstop panel, and the three panels, 18, 19,and 20 capture and retain the pitched ball onto the surface of thebackstop panel. The batter works to only swing the simulated bat handle21 if the batter believes the pitched ball 15 will be passing through aspecifically designated colored hitting zone in combination with aspecific ball-strike count.

After the pitch is made and the pitched ball 15 is captured on thesurface of the backstop panel 14, or one of the three panels 18, 19, and20, the batter looks at the batter training device A to see where thepitched ball 15 landed to determine if the batter made the correctdecision to either swing or not swing at the pitched ball.

During a typical pitched session, a series of balls are pitched towardthe backstop panel 14 of the batter training device A and the batterchooses to either swing or not swing at the pitched ball 15 depending onwhich hitting zone the batter believes the pitched ball will land.Normally, each ball will be pitched and scored before another pitch ismade. This prevents a second pitched ball 15 from striking andrelocating a first pitched (when more than one ball is pitched in aseries before scoring) and not revealing the initial location of thepitch.

During the series of pitches, the batter simulates a swing as closely aspossible to the swing the batter would make during a real gamesituation. That means the batter should take the same batting stance andmake the same preparatory and swinging motions the batter would normallytake during an actual game. Once the pitched ball 15 is pitched towardthe batter training device A, the batter should not swing late, butshould swing when the batter believes the pitched ball is crossing thehome plate 10.

In some preferred embodiments, score is kept to determine if the batteris appropriately either swinging or not swinging at pitched balls.Scoring requires the batter to know the ball-strike count and thencombine that information with the colored hitting zone toward which thepitched ball 15 appears to be moving as determined by the batter. In thepresent embodiment, the numerical score of the batter is determined bythe number of tally rings 17 that have accumulated on the battertraining device A as described below. Those of skill in the art willappreciate that the ball and strike count on a batter in an actual ballgame has a significant impact on whether a batter should swing or notswing at a pitched ball. The following scoring method depicts one methodof scoring a batter using the batter training device A where the scoringincludes consideration of the simulated ball-strike count on the batterand location of where the pitched ball 15 lands in the colored hittingzones of the training device A.

1. Simulated Ball Strike Count Includes Zero Strikes.

One tally ring 17 is moved to the left end of the additional member 16(signifying a good hitting decision by the batter) if the batter swingsat a pitched ball that lands on the red panel 20, or swings when thepitched ball lands at a point that touches both the green panel 19 andthe red panel 20.

One tally ring 17 is moved to the left end of the additional member 16(signifying a good hitting decision by the batter) if the batter doesNOT swing when the pitched ball 15 does NOT land on the red panel 20, orwhen the pitched ball does NOT land at a point that touches both thegreen panel 19 and the red panel 20.

One tally ring 17 is moved to the right end of the additional member 16(signifying a bad hitting decision by the batter) if the batter swingswhen the pitched ball 15 does NOT land on the red panel 20, or when thepitched ball does NOT land at a point that touches both the green panel19 and the red panel 20.

Three tally rings 17 are moved to the right end of the additional member16 (signifying a very bad hitting decision by the batter) if the batterdoes NOT swing when the pitched ball 15 lands on the red panel 20, orwhen the pitched ball lands at a point that touches both the green panel19 and the red panel 20.

One tally ring 17 is moved to the right end of the additional member 16(signifying a bad hitting decision by the batter) if the batter swingswhen the pitched ball 15 does NOT land anywhere on the training deviceA. If the pitched ball 15 does not land anywhere on the training deviceA and the batter does not swing, then the pitch does not count as eithergood or bad and the pitch is not scored.

One embodiment can include two exceptions to this scoring. First, whenthe ball-strike count is three balls and zero strikes, or if the battertakes the first pitch thrown to the batter regardless of the hittingzone location, a tally ring 17 is moved to the left end of theadditional member 16 (signifying a good hitting decision by the batter).

2. Simulated Ball Strike Count Includes One Strike.

One tally ring 17 is moved to the left end of the additional member 16(signifying a good hitting decision by the batter) when the ball-strikecount on the batter includes a count of one strike on the batter, andthe batter swings at a pitched ball that lands on either the red panel20 or the green panel 19, or the batter does NOT swing at a pitched ball15 that does NOT lands in either green yellow 19 or the red panel 20.

One tally ring 17 is moved to the right of the additional member 16(signifying a bad hitting decision by the batter) when the ball-strikecount on the batter includes a count of one strike on the batter, andthe batter swings at a pitched ball that does NOT land on either the redpanel 20 or the green panel 19, or the batter does NOT swing at apitched ball 15 that lands in the green panel 19.

Three tally rings 17 are moved to the right of the additional member 16(signifying a very bad hitting decision by the batter) when theball-strike count on the batter includes a count of one strike on thebatter, and the batter does not swing at a pitched ball that lands onthe red panel 20.

One embodiment can include one exception to this scoring. In thatembodiment, one tally ring 17 should be moved to the right of theadditional member 16 (signifying a bad hitting decision by the batter)when the ball-strike count is three balls and one strike the batterswings at a pitched balls that does not land on the red panel 20.

3. Simulated Ball Strike Count Includes Two Strikes.

One tally ring 17 is moved to the left of the additional member 16(signifying a good hitting decision by the batter) when the ball-strikecount on the batter includes a count of two strikes on the batter, andthe batter swings at a pitched ball that lands on either the yellowpanel 18, the green panel 19, or the red panel 20.

One tally ring 17 is moved to the right of the additional member 16(signifying a bad hitting decision by the batter) when the ball-strikecount on the batter includes a count of two strikes on the batter, andthe batter swings at a pitched ball that does NOT land on either theyellow panel 18, the green panel 19, or the red panel 20.

One tally ring 17 is moved to the left of the additional member 16(signifying a good hitting decision by the batter) when the ball-strikecount on the batter includes a count of two strikes on the batter, andthe batter does NOT swing at a pitched ball that does NOT land on eitherthe yellow panel 18, the green panel 19, or the red panel 20.

One tally ring 17 is moved to the right of the additional member 16(signifying a bad hitting decision by the batter) when the ball-strikecount on the batter includes a count of two strikes on the batter, andthe batter does NOT swing at a pitched ball that lands on either theyellow panel 18 or the green panel 19.

Three tally rings 17 are moved to the right of the additional member 16(signifying a very bad hitting decision by the batter) when theball-strike count on the batter includes a count of two strikes on thebatter, and the batter does NOT swing at a pitched ball that lands onthe red panel 20.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention that canbe used to train umpires to more accurately determine whether a pitchedball is either a “ball” or a “strike” under the standard rules ofbaseball. In that embodiment, the green panels 20 are positioned on thebackstop panel 14 to achieve an area that is the size and configurationof a standard strike zone. The simulated ball 15 is pitched at thetraining device A where the simulated ball is held in place on the greenpanel 19 or the backstop panel 14. The umpire can then review theaccuracy of his calls by checking the position of the captured simulatedball 15 to see if the pitch was a “strike” or a “ball.” In a preferredembodiment, the umpire should have a batter taking a stance in front ofthe training device A with the strike zone being adjusted to fit thephysical size and shape of the batter.

FIG. 4 shows yet another alternate embodiment where the simulated ballis thrown against the backstop panel 14 in a game that is substantiallysimilar to a dart game with various points being awarded when thesimulated ball 15 lands in one of the ringed portions 41 of the bull'seye target 42.

While the above description describes various embodiments of the presentinvention, it will be clear that the present invention may be otherwiseeasily adapted to fit any configuration where a baseball/softball strikezone trainer for batters is required. Additionally, as various changescould be made in the above constructions without departing from thescope of the invention, it is also intended that all matter contained inthe above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The scope ofthe invention should be determined by the appended claims and theirlegal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

1. A process of improving the hitting skills of a batter comprising thesteps of; providing a batter with a batter training device that includesa backstop upon which a plurality of bat swinging zones are identified;and providing a set of rules to a batter that identify when the battershould swing a bat at a pitched ball, wherein the set of rules includesa correlation between a ball and strike count on the batter and thebatter's expectation that the pitched ball will strike a specific batswinging zone that is included in the plurality of bat swinging zones.2. The process of improving the hitting skills of a batter of claim 1wherein the plurality of bat swinging zones are indicated by colors thatindicate where in a standard strike zone the pitched ball has contactedthe backstop.
 3. The process of improving the hitting skills of a batterof claim 2 wherein the batter training device includes a backstop panel,wherein each of the plurality of swinging zones is at least one of a redpanel, a green panel, and yellow panel.
 4. The process of improving thehitting skills of a batter of claim 3 wherein at least one of thebackstop panel, the yellow panel, the green panel, the red panel, andthe pitched ball include hook and loop elements that tend to retain thesimulated ball when the pitched ball is pitched against at least one ofthe backstop panel, the yellow panel, the green panel, the red panel. 5.The process of improving the hitting skills of a batter of claim 4further comprising the step of establishing a set of bat swinging rulesregarding one of either single pitched ball or a plurality of pitchedballs pitched to the batter.
 6. The process of improving the hittingskills of a batter of claim 5 wherein the step of establishing the setof bat swinging rules about one of either a single pitched ball or aplurality of pitched balls pitched to the batter includes determiningwhether the batter correctly chose to one of either swing or not swingat the pitched ball based on where the pitched ball contacted at leastone of the backstop panel, the yellow panel, the green panel, or the redpanel.
 7. The process of improving the hitting skills of a batter ofclaim 6 further comprising the step of informing the batter whether thebatter has made one of either a good bat swinging decision or a bad batswinging decision as indicated by the set of bat swinging rules.
 8. Theprocess of improving the hitting skills of a batter of claim 7 whereininforming the batter whether the set of bat swinging rules indicates thebatter is making one of either a good bat swinging decision or a bad batswinging decision includes the further step of training a batter toswing only at a pitched ball when it appears the pitched ball willcontact one of the plurality of colored bat swinging zone indicatorsdepending on a particular ball or strike count that can occur for thebatter during a ball game.
 9. The process of improving the hittingskills of a batter of claim 8 further comprising the step of instructingthe batter to swing at all pitches that the batter expects to contactthe red panel with the exception that when the ball and strike countincludes three balls and zero strikes, the batter is not to swing at apitch that the batter expects to contact the red panel.
 10. The processof improving the hitting skills of a batter of claim 9 furthercomprising the step of instructing the batter to swing at all pitchedballs that the batter expects to contact one of either the red panel orthe green panel, but only when that batter has a ball and strike countthat includes one strike, with the exception that when the ball andstrike count includes three balls and one strike, the batter shouldswing at pitched balls only if the batter believes the pitched ball willland on the red panel.
 11. The process of improving the hitting skillsof a batter of claim 10 further comprising the step of instructing thebatter to swing at pitched balls that the batter believes will land onone of either the yellow panel, the green panel, or the red panel, butonly when the ball and strike count on the batter includes two strikes.12. The process of improving the hitting skills of a batter of claim 11wherein the batter training device further comprises a simulated bathandle and a scoring device for tallying the accuracy of the batter'sdecision to swing or not to swing at a series of pitched balls.
 13. Aprocess of improving the hitting skills of a batter comprising the stepsof; providing a batter with a batter training device that includes abackstop upon which a plurality of bat swinging zones are identified,wherein the batter training device includes a backstop panel, whereineach of the plurality of swinging zones is identified by at least one ofa red panel, a green panel, and yellow panel; providing a set of rulesto a batter that identify when the batter should swing a bat at apitched ball, wherein the set of rules includes a correlation between aball and strike count on the batter and the batter's expectation thatthe pitched ball will strike a specific bat swinging zone that isincluded in the plurality of bat swinging zones; and providing a set ofbat swinging rules regarding one of either single pitch or a pluralityof pitched balls pitched to the batter, wherein the step of bat swingingrules includes determining whether the batter correctly chose to one ofeither swing or not swing at the pitched ball based on where the pitchedball contacted at least one of the backstop panel, the yellow panel, thegreen panel, or the red panel.
 14. The process of improving the hittingskills of a batter of claim 13 wherein at least one of the backstoppanel, the yellow panel, the green panel, the red panel, and the pitchedball include hook and loop elements that tend to retain the pitched ballwhen the pitched ball is pitched against at least one of the backstoppanel, the yellow panel, the green panel, or the red panel.
 15. Theprocess of improving the hitting skills of a batter of claim 14 furthercomprising the step of establishing a set of bat swinging rulesregarding one of either single pitch or a plurality of pitched ballspitched to the batter.
 16. The process of improving the hitting skillsof a batter of claim 15 wherein the step of establishing the set of batswinging rules about one of either single pitch or a plurality ofpitched balls pitched to the batter includes determining whether thebatter correctly chose to one of either swing or not swing at thepitched ball based on where the pitched ball contacted at least one ofthe backstop panel, the yellow panel, the green panel, or the red panel.17. The process of improving the hitting skills of a batter of claim 16further comprising the steps of: informing the batter whether the batterhas made one of either a good bat swinging decision or a bad batswinging decision as indicated by the set of bat swinging rules; andinforming the batter whether the set of bat swinging rules indicates thebatter is making one of either a good bat swinging decision or a bad batswinging decision includes the further step of training a batter toswing only at a pitched ball when it appears the pitched ball willcontact one of the plurality of colored bat swinging zone indicatorsdepending on a particular ball or strike count that can occur for thebatter during a ball game.
 18. The process of improving the hittingskills of a batter of claim 17 further comprising the step of:instructing the batter to swing at all pitched balls that the batterexpects to contact the red panel with the exception that when the balland strike count includes three balls and zero strikes, the batter isnot to swing at a pitched ball that the batter expects to contact thered panel; instructing the batter to swing at all pitched balls that thebatter expects to contact one of either the red panel or the greenpanel, but only when that batter has a ball and strike count thatincludes one strike, with the exception that when the ball and strikecount includes three balls and one strike, the batter should swing atpitched balls only if the batter believes the pitched ball will land onthe red panel; and instructing the batter to swing at pitched balls thatthe batter believes will land on one of either the yellow panel, thegreen panel, or the red panel, but only when the ball and strike counton the batter includes two strikes.
 19. The process of improving thehitting skills of a batter of claim 18 further comprising the step ofkeeping a score of the batter's batting decision that includes:increasing the score by one increment if the ball and strike countincludes zero strikes and if at least one of the following is true: thebatter swings at a pitched ball that lands on the red panel, the batterswings when the pitched ball lands at a point that touches both thegreen panel and the red panel, the batter does NOT swing when thepitched ball does NOT land on the red panel, or when the pitched balldoes NOT land at a point that touches both the green panel and the redpanel, the batter swings when the pitched ball does NOT land on the redpanel, or when the pitched ball does NOT land at a point that touchesboth the green panel and the red panel, or the batter takes the firstpitch thrown to the batter regardless of the hitting zone location andwhen the ball and strike count includes three balls and zero strikes;decreasing the score by three increments if the ball and strike countincludes zero strikes and if at least one of the following is true: thebatter does not swing when the pitched ball lands on the red panel, orthe batter does not swing when the pitched ball lands at a point thattouches both the green panel and the red panel; decreasing the score byone increment if the ball and strike count includes zero strikes and thebatter swings when the pitched ball does not land anywhere on thebackstop of the training device; increasing the score by one incrementif the ball and strike count includes one strike and if at least one ofthe following is true: the batter swings at a pitched ball that lands oneither the red panel or the green panel, or the batter does NOT swing ata pitched ball that does not land on either green panel, the yellowpanel, or the red panel; decreasing the score by one increment if theball and strike count includes one strike and if at least one of thefollowing is true: the batter swings at a pitched ball that does notland on either the red panel or the green panel, or the batter does notswing at a pitched ball that lands on the green panel; decreasing thescore by three increments if the ball and strike count includes onestrike and the batter does not swing at a pitched ball that lands on thered panel; decreasing the score by one increment if the ball and strikecount includes one strike and three balls and the batter swings at apitched ball that does not land on the red panel; increasing the scoreby one increment if the ball and strike count includes two strikes andif at least one of the following is true: the batter swings at a pitchedball that lands on either the yellow panel, the green panel, or the redpanel, or the batter does not swing at a pitched ball that does not landon either the yellow panel, the green panel, or the red panel;decreasing the score by one increment if the ball and strike countincludes two strikes and if at least one of the following is true: thebatter swings at a pitched ball that does not land on either the yellowpanel, the green panel, or the red panel, or the batter does not swingat a pitched ball that lands on either the yellow panel or the greenpanel; decreasing the score by three increments if the ball and strikecount includes two strikes and the batter does not swing at a pitchedball that lands on the red panel.